In 662 the Crab Clan ChampionHida Tsuneko was mocked in the Imperialwinter court when she made a desperate plea to alleviate the Clan's hunger. In 663 the Yasuki began to use illegal means to shut out opponent Crane merchants from the markets, and the Daidoji retaliated in the same way. The economical dispute escalated to open war when Tsuneko invaded the Crane lands. [2]

Starvation drove the Crab troops to fight with desperate ferocity, reaching the outskirts of Mura Sabishii Toshi. The Emperor sent the Imperial Legions to support the defenders, so Tsuneko admitted defeat to avoid battling the well fed Imperial armies. [3]